My name is Will Nelson and I am a music therapy student at Immaculata University. In December 2011, I had an epiphany. At that time, I was driving endless miles through the pot-holed streets of greater Philadelphia, taking photos of damaged property for my job as an Insurance Claims Photographer. That particular afternoon, the familiar voices of NPR’s hosts were discussing, to my excitement, the link between science and music. It was Talk of the Nation and Dr. Oliver Sacks, who I had heard about on other radio shows, was one of the guests. Dr. Sacks and the others described how therapists were using music to rewire the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, helping people find new ways to communicate after dementia stole their speech. They talked about music’s role in pain management, and how it is used to lower blood pressures, heart rates, and anxiety levels in patients. Specifically, they spoke about the miraculous victories in the recovery of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who suffered a tragic gunshot wound to the head a few months before. Using music therapy, new pathways were created in her brain that circumvented the damaged areas and, with time, she is regaining her ability to speak.
As a lifelong musician, composer, bandleader, wedding band keyboardist, barbershop tenor, and political junky, I was tremendously moved by Gabrielle Giffords’ story. The idea that music could be used therapeutically in a clinical environment to help people with all sorts of developmental, psychological, and physical problems was novel and yet intuitive to me. I pulled over and parked in a lot immediately, and like a sponge, I absorbed everything I could from the speakers. Since that day, I have been actively researching the field, reading case studies, and learning as much as I can about the fascinating field of music therapy. I am currently enrolled in the music therapy program at Immaculata University. I look forward to earning my degree, becoming AMTA certified, and spending the rest of my years using the amazing healing powers of music to improve the quality of life of others.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoy my thoughts, analysis, and research about the exciting and exploding field of music therapy.
As a lifelong musician, composer, bandleader, wedding band keyboardist, barbershop tenor, and political junky, I was tremendously moved by Gabrielle Giffords’ story. The idea that music could be used therapeutically in a clinical environment to help people with all sorts of developmental, psychological, and physical problems was novel and yet intuitive to me. I pulled over and parked in a lot immediately, and like a sponge, I absorbed everything I could from the speakers. Since that day, I have been actively researching the field, reading case studies, and learning as much as I can about the fascinating field of music therapy. I am currently enrolled in the music therapy program at Immaculata University. I look forward to earning my degree, becoming AMTA certified, and spending the rest of my years using the amazing healing powers of music to improve the quality of life of others.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoy my thoughts, analysis, and research about the exciting and exploding field of music therapy.